Fruit-grading machine



March 26, 1929. c. HY. HUGHES FRUITA GRADING MACHINE Filed April 14, 192e 4 Vshe,et'sshee' 1 INVENTQR. .7.x BY AQ@ Mmm/@w ATTORNEYS.

March 26, 1929. C, H HUGHES 1,706,734I

FRUIT GRADING MACHINE A TTORNE YS.

Marh 26, `192.9. yc. H'. HUGHES FRUIT GRADING MACHINE Y sheets-sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

AQIM/ @MKM/uw WQ'JH/ A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

AUNITI-:D STATES CHARLES H. HUGHES, or naNgroNvILLa, musas FRUIT-GRADING MACHINE.

Application tiled April 14,

This invention relates to the grading of fruit .for marketing and more particularly to machines designed to grade apples or other similar fruit. Y

An object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described which will assist in the rapid examination of the fruit and the sorting. or gradingthereof in accordance with the size and condition ofthe fruit and automatically grade certain selected fruit by weight.

A further object isr to provide a device of the character described which will insure complete inspection of the fruit while facilitating its handling.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described which will automatically grade certain selected fruit by the Weight. f

A further object is to provide a device Vwhich will operate with a minimum of labor and with a maximum of efficiency.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear herelnpoc after. y

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of.

elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the applicrtion of which will, be indicated in the, c a1ms.

For a fuller understanding of the nature` and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following `detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying this invention, g

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at a lower level with the upper portions removed,

Fig. 3 is a longitudi al section along the line 3--3 of Figs. 1 an 2, Figs. 4 and 5 are sections along the lines 4 4 and 5.-5of Fig. 1, respectively, Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the machine, Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are details of au-tomatic grading machinery; f

Figs.- 11 and 12 are details of a modified form of weight grading apparatus; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmental view of the fruitl receiving member. v

The invention is .described more'particuas applied to the grading of apples.

.lary he machine comprises in general apple 192,6'. Serial No. 101,853.

1, a cull separator 2, an

receiving hopper 3, and the automatic gradinspection means ingmachinery 4.

he hop er 1 comprises in general an apron 5 inc ined toward the rest o'f the machine having fruit discharging spots 6 connected to its lower end. A central discharge opening 7 is surrounded by a ledge or wall 8 to prevent fruit accidentally falling through the opening for a pur se to be described. The main body of t e apron 5 is preferably slatted as shown at 9 to eliminate dirt and twigs. Beneath the opening 7 is an inclined trough 10 leading to a chute 11.

The cull separator 2 comprises in general a pair of spirals 12 and 13 mounted for rotation around generally parallel axes with the spirals so arranged as to form a succession of pockets for the receipt of the fruit. Onesuch pair of spirals is provided for each of the chutes 6 in position to receive apples de livered therefrom. The spials 12.and 13 of each pair are so arranged as to provide kets R for the receipt of the fruit, which pockets travel from the discharge mouth yof the spout 6 toward the far end of the spirals. The spirals are so arranged however that the size of the pocket increases as the fruit is carried away from the spout. Thismay be arranged either by slightly inclining the axes of the spiral toward each other or by varying the diameter of the spiral rolls themselves from the onel end t0- ward the other.

With the foregoing construction, it will be clear that if apples are placed in the apron 5 the will move by gravity out of the dlscharge'c utes 6, and be delivered one at a time upon the spirals 12 and 13. The apples so delivered' will be -carried toward the far end of the spirals and in the event that the ap les are arger than the largest diameter W ich pockets R attain, the fruit will be discharged at the ri hthand end of these spirals. Any apple, oweve'r, which is of smaller dia-meter than this maximum diameter ofthe pockets R', will be dropped between the spirals into the chute 11 which lies immediatelybeneath them.

Means are provided for preventing thc. falling of app es between Athespirals at the larger end comprisingy rods 14 which may be adjustably mounted in a cross-beam 15 in position to lie between the spirals 12 and 13. With this construction, it will be clear that by advancing the rod. 14 toward the left, the maximum ehlective diameter of the pockets R and hence the maximum diameter of apple to be dropped between the spirals may be varied.

The inspection. means 3 comprises rolls 16 and 17 rota-ting about parallel axes, one

such pair of rolls being provided for each pair of spirals 12 and 13 and each air ing positioned to receive the apples 'rom its corresponding pair of such spirals. Such inspection means is arranged to move the fruit forwardly toward the right at the same time exposing the maximum surface thereof to inspection. @This can be arranged by rotating both rolls in the same direction. One of them, as for example the roll 16, is made in the form of a spiral while the other ro-ll 17 is preferably smooth. This construction has the eilect of rolling the fruit over and over as it moves along. The rolls 16 and 17 are suliiciently close together to cause the fruit to be supported from underneath rather than from the sides to facilitate pushing the fruit laterally over the one or the other of them in the 'process oi hand grading to be described. Moreover, each pair of rolls 16 and 17 is sudiciently spaced from the pair of rolls next to it to permit fruit to pass between the pairs. There heilig four such pairs, there are thus provided five openings 13, 19, 20, 21 and 22 between the sets of rolls and between the sets and the outer frame into which apples may be ilapped from the inspection rolls. The center and outside openings 20, 13 and 22, are designed to receive under sized apples which are carried bach without further grading to abin 23 while the other two openings19 and 21 are designed to receive second grade apples which are vcarried forward to be graded by weight as will be hereinafter described. To accomplish these results, there is mounted below each of these openings a conveyor which. ma conveniently comprise spirals 24, 25, 26, 2 and 28 each of which operates in connection with deflectors 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. rlLhe deflect/ors are ai ranged each beneath its corresponding opening 18, 19, 20', 21 and 22 and each delector is inclined toward its corresponding spiral to cause the fruit to contact with the spiral. Alternate spirals are arranged to move the lruit in opposite directions. As illustrated they are arranged to have opposite pitch. rllhe conveyors 24-29, 26--31 and 28-33 are arranged to carry fruit received thereon toward the leit toldischarge 'the same inte the chute 23 as has been previously described while the conveyors 25, 30 and 27,. 32 carry 'the fruit received thereon forwardly toward 'the right discharging the same onto similar conveyors 34.-.-35, which carry the fruit to the far side of the weight grading device as will be later described. .Each of the plates 29, 31 and 33 may terminate short of the partition 15 to permit the iruit being moved by the spirals to fall into the chute 23.

The numeral 40 comprises a track, of sub.- stantially endless form, which is divided into four portions numbered respectively 41, 42, 43 and 44. rlhe portion 41 is situated adjacent to the delivery end of the inspection conveyor 16-17. The opposite portion 43 is adjacent to the delivery end of the conveyors 34, 35. The intermediate portions 42 and 44 pass adjacent to receiving bins 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49, 50, 51 and 52 respectively. Four such bins are shown in each set, but obviously any desired number may be employed. y

Over the track are caused to pass cer-- tain apple carriers 53 which are designed to receive the apples' from the conveyors and discharge them into the proper bins selectively as will be hereinafter` described. These conveyors comprise a pair of apple receiving members 54 and 55 of general quadrantal shape pivoted as'at 56 and 57 so asto be movable from the position shown in Fig. 7 where the fruit may be deposited and retained therein to the position shown in F ig. 10 where the fruit will be discharged therefrom. To accomplish this movement, there is provided upon each yof the pivots 56 rand 57 intermeshing mutilated gears 58 and 59 while the shaft of the member 55 is projected and bent downwardly to form a trigger arm 60. In accordance with this construction the carrier will remain in the apple carrying position until the trigger 60 1s4 moved whereupon both quadrantal members will be rotated to discharge the fruit; These quadrants comprise generally a metal frame lined with fabric, to protect the fruit from bruising. l The fruit carriers are supported on the innerside from an endless chain 61 to which each of the fruit carriers is pivotally attached. The connection on one side is slid-y ing to facilitate the turn around the corner. This chain ma as a guide. he outer side of each fruit carrier 1s supported upon the triggerI 66 restmg. upon the track 40. The trigger 66 is so designed that with the carrier in fruit retalning position, the trigger is on the riorward side of dead center and in this position it rests upon and slides along the traclr as the carrier is moved by the chain 61. The apple grading mechanism comprises a plurality' of. sections 62 or the traclr 40 which may be termed platforms, each et said sections being opposite one et the bins 45 to 52 and each section being pivoted as shown at 63 forwardly oil its center so that its rearward end 64 may he depressed below the level ci the remainder of the trash. An arm 65 projects rearwardly and receives a .weight 66 which is adjustable upon the arm travel in a groove to serve' as by a thumb nut 67. This bar is preferabl graduated according to any deslred sca es. With this construction, 11t will be clear that as the apple carrier rides upon the track with the trigger in engagement therewith, the apple will be retained in the carrier by reason of the fact that the trlgger is in advance of its dead center. As'rthe trigger 60 passes onto the platform 62 rf the weight of the apple is insuiliclent to pvercome the effect of the weight 66, the trigger continues to pass onto the next section of track as though the track were umnter: rupted. Should, however, the weight of the apple be suflicient to overcome the weight 66, the platform 62 will be depressed and the trigger 60 will pass into engagement with the projecting end of the track beyond the platform as shown in Fig. 10, to be carried backwardly beyond its dead center and discharge the fruit into the corresponding bin. Immediately thereafterwards, the continuation of the movement of the carrier causes the trigger 60 to ride upover the edge of the platform as aforesaid and the carrier continues its movement in inverted position. It will be obvious that these devices will be so set as to discharge the larger vapples into the first bins.

In order to restore the carriers in position again to receive fruit, there is provided upon the carrier frame a lug 68 and raised tracks 69 andv 70 corresponding in position res tively to the track sections 43 and 41 w ich are arranged to engage the lug 68 of each fruit carrier in turn and lift the same an amount suflicient to permit the trigger 60y to ass its dead center due to the combined weights of the apple carriers and toreturn to its normal position. These tracks 69 and 70 may be continued, if desired, throughout the full length of the receiving sections 43 and 41, or they may be of only suicient length to restore the apple carriers to-their normal position. i

Suitable shafting and gearing may be provided, as for example the shaft 71, gears 72 and 73 for moving the chain 61 and thev .chains 74 and 75 may be connected to the shafts 71 for driving the grading and inspection spirals. It will be understood moreover that the spirals 12 and 13, 16 and 34 will all-he so timed relative to each other and to the apple carriers that the a ples will be received from the hopper 1, de ivered to the culling device 2, passed in inspection' vposition to receive it.

This comprises as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, a barrier 76 1n the pathway of each of the conveyors mounted upon a rod 77 pivoted at the sides of. the frame so as to be movable to a position to permit the discharge of the fruit. This barrier is lifted automatically by the driving mechanism in proper timed relation to the movement ofthe carriers. To accomplish this result, there is provided on the shaft 77 a one toothed gear 78 meshing with a similar gear 79 driven by a air of beveled gears 80, 81 on a shaft 90 w ich in turn is driven by a belt 91 from the shaft 92 which carries a sprocket 93 by which the chain 61 is driven.l It will be obvious that the proportioning of the belt pulleys and gearing is such that thebarrier 76 will be lifted once while four selectors pass a given point and that the movement will be properly timed so that the barrier is lifted as a carrier comes opposite the point of conveyor discharge. v

The operation of the. device will in general be evident from the foregoing description. Apples are deposited in the bin 1 and moved by gravity toward the rolls 12, 13. During this movement defective apples and apples obviously below grade may be picked up and thrown into the central orifice 7, thence passing into the receptacle 11 for Iculls.

Thus apples received by the culling spirals 12 and 13 are passed onwardly toward the,

inspection mechanism 16, 17, but any apple which is below the predetermined minimum, will pass downwardly between the spirals 12, 13 and fall into the cullreceptacle. The rolls 16 and 17 receive the apples from the spirals 12, 13 and keep them in constant rotation for purposes of inspection as they are passed to the right as seen in Fig. 1. During this inspection, yapples which are firstclass are not disturbed but apples of the B and C grade are flipped from the conveyor toward the inside or outside, apples o f the B grade being cast into the compartments 19 and 21 While apples of the C grade go into the openings 18, 20 and 22. It will thus be seen that the C grade apples are conveyed backwardly by the conveyors yinto the eompartment 23 as described, while the B grade apples are carried forwardly by the conveyors 34, 35 to besorted by weight into the bins 49 to 52. A grade apples passing onwardly from the conveyors 16 and 17 are delivered kinto the fruit carriers at 41, the four carriers being preferably loaded simultaneously by the four pairs of conveyors. These carriers'then ass to theposition 42 and each successive y discharges its contents into the bin 45 to 48 which correspond to the weight of the apple conveyor.- The empty conveyors then pass tov the 'track 69 where they are restored to apple recelving position andare again lilled with apples by Cil the conveyors 34 and 3 5, though here of course the apples supplied are the B grade apples. These apples pass onwardly to position 14; where they are graded by Weight in a. manner similar' to that already described for the A grade apples. The empty receivers are then restored'to' apple receiving position by engagement with the track 70 and the operation continues as before. It will thus be seen that the weight grading devices are bontinuously operated, performing their functions both upon the outward movement and upon their return, thus greatly reducing the space required for grading a given number of apples.

In the modified term of weight grading device shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the fruit receiver comprises a basket 100 which may be of generally rectangular' form, and may be made of bent Wire as illustrated having a de ending U-shaped arml101 supporting a subrame 102 which carries a canvas band 103 loosel stretched between opposing sides 104:, 105 tor the reception of the fruit.

This basket 100is supported in upright position to carry fruit but is adapted to be pivoted about an axis to permit the fruit to be discharged as shown in Fig. 12, should 'the weight oit the fruit exceed a predetermined amount. 'lo accomplish this result and to move the basket into correlation with the conveyors and the grading machinery,` the receiver is pivoted at its front side to a pin 106 carried by a chain 107 corresponding to the chain 61 inthe previously described construction, supported on the side opposite the chain by a linger 108 bearing upon the track 109 corresponding to the track 60 previously described. I The pivot 106 is preferably disposed at the advance edge of the fruit carrier on the side toward the chain, While the linger 108 is preferably situated near the rearward edge of the fruit ,carrier on the opposite side.

ln accordance with this construction, it 'will be evident that the fruit receiver is supported in horizontal fruit receiving position so long as the nger 108 is supported by the track 109. Should, however, this supaport cease, the fruit carrier is in position to move about the axis 106 at its front edge to reach the positior? shown in Fig. 12 to discharge the fruit. To accomplish this result, the track 100 is interrupted as shown at 110 and in this interruption there is supplied a weighing member 111 which comprises a track member 112'Wl1ich is in edect asection of the track which ,is movable vertically but which is yicldingly held in position to serve as a continuation of said track. As illustrated, the member 111 is pivoted about an axis 113 and carries onthe other side of said axis a rejecting arm 114 on which is adjustably' p aced a wei ht 115, and the member 112 is so positione relative to the axis 113 moeren and the weight 115 that when a nger 108 of a carrier 100 containing an apple of a pre- 'ranged close'r to the axis 113 than the other end, so that the tendency of the apiple to depress the track increases from the a vance end tothe latter end of the member 112. It will thus be seen that an apple of Sullicient weightto cause any depressing action Whatever upon the advance end of the member 112 is assisted in completely depressing the member by the increase in leverage thus ailorded as the finger approaches the latter end of the member 112. Thus, any tendency toward uncertain action on the part of the Weight of the selector due to an a ple appreaching closely to the size for W ich the Weight 115 is set is avoided.

To permit the linger 108 to drop completely below the track 109 Whenever the member 112 is depressed, a passageway 116 is provided through the track 109 and in position to be entered by the said finger as a carriage moves along. For the purpose of again restoring the a ple carrier to apple receiving position, @here is provided a groove 117 carrying a depending defiector 118 in position to engage the finger 108 as it hangs below the track. lOpposite the groove 117, the track 109 is formed of `a spring member 112 which is normally in position to keep the track substantially continuous but which ma be raised by the finger 108 as it ascends thi-ou h the groove 117 to permit the linger to sip upon the top surface of the track.

Beneath the point ot discharge of the apple carrier, there is provided a chute 120. Should the machine be operating upon fruit vvhich is so closely graded that a large percentage of the ruit cornes Within a sin le class, it may be found that the fruit is delivered faster than it can be convenienti f Wra pecl. llt is not desirable to errnit frult to all into a bin since such all-ing may cause bruises upon the fruit. To avoid this,

there is provided a receptacle 121 having a false bottom 122 resiliently supported by springs 123, and these springs are of such strength as to yield to the Weight oi a layer oit apples substantially in amount ual to the thickness of the layer so that at al times the ap les discharged from the chute 120 may -ro l over on top of the fruit already in the receptacle Without falling.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and dil'erent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained inthe .above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and speciic features of the inventlon herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween, 4

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, a pair of cylindrical members for supporting fruit having a `progressively increasing opening between them rom one end toward the other, means for moving the fruit from the one end toward the second, whereby the fruit is graded by the change in the size of said opening, and means or predetermining the maximum size fruit which may pass through said opening, comprising an element for limiting the portionl of the opening through which said fruit may fall.

2. A device of the character described,

com risin in combination a air of c lin drical members close together compared to the size of the fruit and means vfor movin said fruit from one end of said cylindrica members to the other, a conveyor disposed beneath the outer edge of one of said cylindrical members in position to receive fruit pushed therefrom, and Vseparate receiving bins for receiving fruit from said cylindrical members and from said conveyor respectively.

3. A device of the character described, comprising, in combination, a fruit carrier capable o? being closed and opened to receive and discharge fruit, a trigger adapted to hold said carrier in the closed position and supporting a predetermined portion of the weight of said fruit, a track on which said trigger ,travels and means associated with said track and operable by the weight of said fruit for releasing said trigger to discharge said fruit.

4. In a device of the character described, comprising, in combination, a smooth cylinder a spiral cylinder rotating in the same direction a distance apart which is' small compared tothe diameter of the fruit to be graded, and separate conveyors disposed below the outside ed e of each of said cylinders for receiving ruit ejected therefrom.

5.A fruit carrier of the character described, comprising, in combination, a pair of substantially quadrant shaped members, means for pivoting said members at their outer edges toswing toward and away from each other, and means for connecting said members for operation in unison.

'6. A fruit carrier of the character described, eomprising, in combination, a pair of substantially quadrant shaped members, each having a fabric lining, means for pivoting said members at their outer edges to swing toward and away from each other, means for connecting said members for operation in unison.

7. A fruit carrier of the character described, comprising, in combination, a pair of substantiallyquadrant shaped members, means for pivoting said members atl their outer edges to sw-in toward and away from each other, means or connecting said members for operation in unison, means for translating said carrier, from one position to-anotheig means associated with one position for closing said members, and means associated with the other for opening said members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES H. HUGHES. 

